Fewer hotspots as Indonesia ramps up water-bombing missions - The Straits Times

JAKARTA - The number of hotspots picked up across Indonesia by satellites fell slightly to 214 on Monday (July 31), according to latest figures from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). This after forest fires, most of which were located in the western regions of Aceh and Kalimantan, led to 239 hotspots the day before, said to be the highest so far this year. While the haze from fires in West Aceh, which had forced some schools in its capital Meulaboh to close, had largely abated, more hotspots were detected in West Kalimantan and Riau - now the two worst-hit provinces. Figures The Straits Times received from BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho on Monday, showed 59 hotspots in Riau, followed by West Kalimantan with 46. Get The Straits Times newsletters in your inbox Sign Up Dr Sutopo had attributed the rise in the number of hotspots to the seasonal dry spell, wh...